Tie scaled-down articulated flies with lifelike movement.

Co-designed by Greg Senyo

Greg Senyo is a prominent steelhead and salmon expert who has designed many leading fly tying materials.

Senyo’s Micro Shank is a smaller, lighter version of the popular Senyo’s Articulated Shank, and is a simple, versatile solution for tying a variety of small, articulated flies such as petite trout wet flies, low-water steelhead flies, sparse streamer designs, and small traditional salmon flies. The wire diameter is small enough to directly attach to hooks as small as size #10.

The ultralight, slim, and strong shank also offers a new option for tying surface flies and brings a high degree of realistic, articulated movement to small fly design.

Spey fishing for TroutSwinging flies for trout on one-handed or lightweight two-hander fly rods has been rapidly gaining in popularity, and for good reason – it’s super fun!

Sometimes referred to as the “Single-Hand Spey Revolution,” anglers are now adapting proven, traditional spey fishing tactics and fly designs to target trout in ways similar to swinging flies for salmon and steelhead.

Low-water steelhead fishingIn recent years, anglers targeting steelhead have had to adapt their fly designs to match the increasing low-water conditions in fisheries worldwide.

A lighter shank for designing and tying smaller, sparse flies is incredibly useful in these situations.

European fly designsAnglers across Europe, particularly in the Nordic countries and the Baltic region, are creating unique and innovative small fly designs to target Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and brown trout. Senyo’s Micro Shank enables the tying of these of these smaller, less bulky patterns.

Other uses Panfish, warmwater, and saltwater applications are still present, and this lightweight shank with an up-eye is compatible with all current shank models as an add on.

Quick and easy to tieSenyo's Shank is designed to be able to be held straight in any fly tying vise, avoiding the need to tie the fly at strange angles.

This allows you to easily attach a free-swinging stinger hook or do a direct hook-to-shank connection using the rear loop.

This provides your flies with a more realistic action, while maintaining profile and the suspended, slow sink rates ideal for these styles of fishing.Small rear loopAllows you to attach hooks directly onto the shank.

Stainless steelFor saltwater use.

Hooks can be attached in 2 ways. 1. They can be connected directly to the rear loop to form a fixed articulated joint.2. They can be connected using a wire loop to create a free-swinging stinger hook. Senyo Thin Intruder Wire for hooks #6 and under are ideal.

Articulated streamers, simplified.

Designed by Martin Bawden.

This innovative, multipurpose material is a key component for tying different styles of articulated streamers, such as single-hook and double-hook articulated streamers, poppers, and sliders, as well as in streamers that use a free-swinging stinger hook, such as intruder-style salmon and steelhead flies.

Q: Does the Articulated Shank introduce new concepts in tying articulated streamers?

A: Not really. For the most part it is intended as a fly tying material that can be used to simplify some of the established articulating methods commonly used today. Fly tiers can still tie the same types/styles of articulated streamers, but now the Articulated Shank makes this a little easier and quicker by eliminating some of the tying steps and improvised materials (such as sacrificing hooks to make a shank). In saying that, the simplicity of the Articulated Shank allows the fly tier to experiment and create new and innovative techniques to articulate flies. You are only limited by your imagination!

Q: How would you describe the shank?

A: Simple. It is essentially a hook-shank with a straight hook eye on one end and a vertical, over-sized loop on the other. It is made of 316 stainless spring steel so that it can also be used in saltwater. It is available in 3 lengths i.e. 20mm (3/4”), 35mm (1 3/8”) and 55mm (2 1/8”) to give fly tiers plenty of options.

Q: How thick is the wire?

A: The wire diameter of the Articulated Shank is roughly the same as a typical #4 or #2 streamer hook. It needs to be this diameter in order to fit through the eye of the hook you are articulating. So by default, the Articulated Shank is intended for streamers using hook sizes from about a #4 hook upwards. Experiment with your hooks as there is no industry standardization and hook eye sizes will vary between hook makes, models and sizes.

Q: How strong is the wire?

A: The strength is about the same as a #4 or #2 streamer hook. Like a long streamer hook, if you had to put enough direct pressure on it with your hands it would bend. However, one of the major advantages and beauty of an articulated fly is that it vastly reduces the amount of leverage that a hooked fish can place on the fly. This concept is not always widely understood or discussed, but is a key factor in landing bigger fish more often. The shank sits between the fly line/tippet and the articulated hook which moves independently from the shank. So no matter how hard a fish fights it becomes virtually impossible to exert any direct pressure on the shank. The shank essentially becomes just an extension of the straight line that connects an angler to the hook in the fishes mouth.

Q: Why an over-sized vertical loop?

A: A little more freedom of movement. In addition to side-to-side action, we also wanted to ensure there is plenty of room for up-and-down movement on the drop between strips. Typically the loop is completely covered with body materials right up to the articulation point and cannot be seen.

Q: What is the difference between the Articulated Shank and Senyo’s Articulated Shank for Steelhead & Salmon flies?

A: Both shanks work very well, but the main difference is the Articulated Shank is more of a general purpose shank with various fly tying applications, whereas Senyo’s Articulated Shank is specialized with features that modern steelhead and salmon fly tiers have been asking for.

Tie animated baitfish patterns with ultra-lifelike action.

Co-designed with Blane Chocklett.

Blane Chocklett is one of the fly fishing industry’s most forward-thinking and innovative fly tyers. Essentially a tapered daisy-chain, the Fish-Spine is a series of specifically-designed articulated shanks that allow you to create multi-jointed, highly articulated streamers, such as the revolutionary Chocklett’s Game Changer.

Potentially any dense synthetic material (we recommend Chocklett's Body Wrap) or natural feathers can be used, flies can be weighted or unweighted, and the hook can be in the front or the back.

The concept is simple. A fly is tied in segments. Each segment is tied using one of the 3 or 4 articulated shanks or the hook. Typically, a fly is tied by starting first with the tail segment and once completed, more segments are added on one at a time until you finish at the front of the fly.

To explain in a little more detail, each segment is created by tying the materials onto an articulated shank. Once a segment is tied, the articulated shank is removed from the vise and connected to the loop of the next size of articulated shank. In turn, this new shank is held in the vise and the materials in turn are tied onto that shank. This process continues until the segments of the fly (shanks and hooks) are all connected together. The fly is then trimmed to shape and any final features like eyes or body markings can be added to finish off the fly.

A: A Fish-Spine is comprised of four specially designed articulated shanks of various lengths i.e. 25mm, 20mm, 15mm and 10mm. These shanks are connected together to form a highly articulated, tapered fish spine.

Q: What hook and shank configurations are possible?

A: The Fish-Spine is highly customizable. Flies of varying sizes can be created by combining different hook sizes/lengths with different shank lengths. This gives you the flexibility to create different patterns to suit your local fishery. Experiment with different combinations of shank lengths, hooks and materials to create your ultimate “swim fly”! Typically, most Fish-Spine flies are tied with the hook in front of the fly, onto which is attached the body and tail section, comprised of either three or four shanks. An alternative is to place the shanks in front with the hook attached to the back of the fly.

Q: What fly tying materials can be used for a Fish-Spine fly?

A: A variety of synthetic or natural fly tying materials can be used. A tip to get maximum action out of the fly is to use materials that are dense enough to force the water to flow around the head of the fly versus through the material. When wrapping or tying in your materials, pack it as tightly as possible. The best synthetic material to use is undoubtedly Chocklett's Body Wrap (by Hareline Dubbin) which has been specifically made for tying with the Articulated Fish Spine. For tying smaller streamers use Frizzle Chenille (by Hareline Dubbin) which produces wonderful flies! For natural materials, any inexpensive hen feathers can be used to tie wonderful "feathered" Game Changer-style flies which are ultra-light and highly articulated!

Blane Chocklett is one of the fly fishing industry’s most forward-thinking and innovative fly tyers. His beefed-up version of the Articulated Shank is optimized for strength with heavy-gauge, stainless steel wire, and has extended length with oversized loops for bigger hooks.

Typically most flies will be single hook flies on a single shank with the hook positioned towards the back of the fly.

1. Put your hook in the vise and tie the tail section of the fly.

2. Attach the shank and tie the body and head section of the fly. To do this, thread the hook (back section) onto the back loop of the shank.

3. Put the shank in your vise held in place by the back loop. Attach your tying thread to the shank and lay a strong thread base along the entire length of the shank. In the process you will be closing the back loop with your thread. We suggest you use a strong Gel Spun or Kevlar thread and make the thread base as thick and strong as possible.

4. Cover and seal the thread base with a layer of Super Glue, epoxy or Clear Cure Goo to add strength.

Q: What are the typical Big Game species that anglers are now targeting with fly rods?

A: One of the most exciting developments in modern fly fishing is that our equipment (fly rods, reels, line, tippet and larger flies) now enable anglers to target almost any fish species previously considered nearly impossible to land with a fly rod. Even marlin and sailfish are now regularly being targeted and caught using fly rods!

Generally in freshwater, the Big Game Shank will be used for tying large flies to target predator species such as musky, pike, peacock bass, golden dorado, tiger fish and larger lake trout.

Generally in saltwater, the Big Game Shank will be used for tying large flies to target predator species such as barracuda, striped bass, roosterfish , or Spanish mackerel, and offshore species such tuna, sailfish, and mahi-mahi, just to name a few.

Q: What size hooks can be used with the Big Game Shanks?

A: The Big Game Shank uses a heavier gauge (thickness/diameter) wire which means that the diameter of the hook eye needs to be slightly bigger in order to fit on the shank. The eye diameter will vary between different hooks, but generally most hooks from size #1 up to 7/0 will fit comfortably.

Q: Why does the Big Game Shank have extended length, with oversized front and back loops?

A: We have extended the length of the wire loops as much as possible so they can be tied down further along the shank. This adds strength to the loop and helps prevents a bigger fish pulling out the loop during an extended fight. The Big Game Shank has larger, oversized loops so the eye of the fly has enough room to use a heavy-duty bite tippet. In addition, the larger loop creates space for bigger hooks (6/0 or 7/0) to move freely on the back loop.

Q: Will the Big Game Shank fit the Fish-Skull Baitfish Heads?

A: Yes, the large Baitfish Heads can be used with the Big Game Shank.

Q: Can multiple shanks be daisy-chained together to tie longer and more articulated flies?

A: Yes, this is an increasingly popular method of tying extra-large articulated streamers. The fly can be constructed in several different segments using a shank for each section.

Greg Senyo is a prominent steelhead and salmon expert who has designed many leading fly tying materials. Specialized for use in intruder-style and other modern steelhead and salmon flies, Senyo's shanks have sought-after features such as a loop-up eye at the front of the shank, stronger stainless steel wire, and a slightly smaller rear loop. Bright, vibrant colors enable you to take the color blending of materials to a whole new level.

Quick and easy to tie Senyo's Shank is held straight in any vise, avoiding the need to tie the fly at strange angles. This allows you to easily attach a free-swinging stinger hook or do a direct hook-to-shank connection using the rear loop.

Loop-up eyeKeeping with traditional salmon and steelhead flies.

Small rear loopAllows you to attach hooks directly onto the shank.

Stainless steelFor saltwater use.

1. The shank is held in your vise by the rear loop.

2. Tie your fly in the normal way.

Q: What is the difference between Senyo’s Articulated Shank and the normal Articulated Shank?

A: Both shanks work very well, but Senyo’s Articulated Shank has been designed with special features that modern steelhead and salmon fly tiers have been asking for. The most significant of these is having a loop up-eye at the front of the shank, stronger wire, a slightly smaller rear loop and the choice of bright, vibrant shank colors that enable fly tiers to take the color blending of materials to a whole new level.

Q: Is this shank intended for tying traditional and classic flies?

A: Not really. This shank is intended for the tying of the more contemporary steelhead and salmon flies that have been gaining in popularity in recent years. Examples include intruder-style and various types of articulated Alaskan-style flies used for catching Pacific salmon species. However, if you enjoy tying classics then combining these techniques with the shank may offer some interesting possibilities for new flies.